The Town FilesWildwood, New Jersey
City in Cape May County · population 5,157 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $391,300
- Household income
- $75,222
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 45.2
Wildwood is a city of 5,157 people in Cape May County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $391,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of New Jersey towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 90% of New Jersey towns.
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Mildest Winters
- #9 in The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey
- #10 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in New Jersey With Little Snow
- #13 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Rent
- #22 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in New Jersey
How Wildwood ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wildwood is worth $391,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $75,222, which is more affordable than 15% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $997 a month. 43.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wildwood | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $391,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $997 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $75,222 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.5% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.8% | — |
Who lives in Wildwood
| People | Wildwood | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 13.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 94.6% |
Weather in Wildwood
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 28.5°F. About 43.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.8 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wildwood since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 27, 1971 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 16, 2025.
Severe weather in Cape May County since 1996
Cape May County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Cape May County
Cape May County had 42,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,574 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Wildwood itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Wildwood
3 public schools with 792 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood Avenue Elementary School | PK-5 | 378 | 10.5 |
| Wildwood High School | 9-12 | 255 | 10.6 |
| Wildwood Middle School | 6-8 | 159 | 10.6 |
Towns near Wildwood
- Wildwood Crest, NJ1.5 mi · 3,101 people · home $590,900
- North Wildwood, NJ1.7 mi · 3,621 people · home $459,900
- Rio Grande, NJ3.9 mi · 3,610 people · home $317,400
- Lower, NJ5.0 mi · 22,057 people · home $364,900
- Cape May, NJ5.4 mi · 2,768 people · home $863,900
- Cape May Court House, NJ6.3 mi · 5,573 people · home $381,200
- Villas, NJ6.6 mi · 9,134 people · home $301,600
- North Cape May, NJ7.1 mi · 4,007 people · home $393,300
Wildwood questions
Is Wildwood, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wildwood scores better for retirees than 10% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 34%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Wildwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Wildwood is valued at $391,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,222, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $997 a month.
What is the weather like in Wildwood?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 28.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.8 inches of snow.
Does Wildwood get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wildwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 27, 1971. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)